Envelope



Patented Sept. i8, i923.

lpdtpmll THOMAS ODONNELL .AND ELIZABETH C.

ODONNELL, 0F IRONWOOD, MICHIGAN.

ENVELOPE.

Application filed May 27,

To all whom-t may concer/n.:I l

Be it known that we. THOMAS ODONNELL and llLrzAnE'rrI C. ODoNNnLL,' citizens of the United States, residing at Ironwood, in the county of Gogebic and State of Michigan, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to envelopes, and more particularly to that class in which a string is confined within the end of the envelope by means of which the envelopeD may be unsealel or opened by drawing outwardly upon one end of the string. The envelopes of this nature now commonly in use have not proved altogether successful because of the fact that the contents of the envelope are not easily removed therefrom even after the envelope has been opened by .pulling upon the string for the reason that this string is usually fixed in one corner of the envelope by means of one of the sealing flaps and this portion of the flap which is not cut bythe string proves a hindrance to the easy removal of the contents of the envelope.

The principal object of the present invention is to obviate this diiiiculty by providing means for securing the end of 'the string which will in no way interfere with the removal of the contents of the envelope after the string has finished its cutting operation.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve upon envelopes of this character by providing a device which will be of extremely simple, durable and inexpensive construction, one which is efficient and reliable in operation, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Vith these and numerous other objects in view, 'the invention resides in certain novel features ofy construction and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

i In the drawing y Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the envelope, y

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof showing the same in an open position, and

Figure Sois a-section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. y i

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen .that 1 designates the body portion of the envelope which in the present illus- 1921. Serial N0. 473,194.`

tration is rectangular in shape and has secured to its lower edge the bottom flap 2 and to its side edges the side aps 23 and -1 and to its top edge the sealing flap' 5.

The parts thus far described are well known in the art and will be assembled in the usual manner. Our invention consists in removing a portion of one of the flaps so that a tab may be secured to one of the edges of the envelope. In the present illustration this is accomplished by removing a portion of the side flap 4 as shown at 6 and providing a tab 7 in this corner of the envelope. This tab 7 may be of any preferred shape but is preferably made substantially smaller than 'the iaps of the envelope. A string 8 is secured between the tab 7 and the body of the envelope in any preferred manner and the tab 7 will then be sealed to the body 1. In the present illustration a fastening means 9 is shown to which is attached the string 8 at one of its ends, the other end thereof projecting through the bottom edge of the envelope`- This fastening means 9 preferably consists of a metallic eyelet rivet and a stiffening element 10 is associated therewith so as to be situated between body l and tab 7 as shown to advantage in Figure 3. The string is tied or otherwise secured about this fastening element 9 and situated along the side edge of the envelope interiorly thereof throughout its major portion so as to terminate exteriorly of the envelope.

As has been stated this tab 7 is sealed or otherwise secured to the body l of the envelope so that as the letter sheet is placed in the,envelope it will in no way hinder same. After the letter sheet is placed within the envelope the sealing flap 5 will be brought over upon the other flap of the envelope and sealed in the usual manner. When it is desired to remove the contents of the envelope all that the operator must do is to fold theend of the string outwardly thus cutting or severing the flap 4 from the body 1 of the envelope. The lingers may now be placed in engagement with the letmoval of the contents since the corner in which the string. is 'permanently attached forms an obstruction to the removal of the contents and especially this istrue when the con-tents consists of ordinary letter sheet.

From the foregoing' description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of an envelope of this character will be readily appreciated Without requiring an extended explanation. As numerous changes in form, proportion, and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to `Without departing from the spirit of the invention'we do not Wish to be limited to the construction herein shown anddescribed other than as claimed.

Having thus described our invention what We claim as new is: l

An envelope including a body portion, a plurality of flaps thereon, a tab at one corner of the body portion, a fastening element passing through the tab and the body portion, and a string located in one end of 'the envelope, one end of the string being secured to the fastening element.

, In testimony whereof We aHiX our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

rrHoMAs oDoNNELL. ELIZABETH o. oDoNNELL.

Witnesses: c

Mrs. JOHN. CosTEuo, HENRY PRAIRIE. 

